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POEMS OF LIFE 



POEMS 

OF LIFE 



By 
KATHARINE FORREST HAMILL 



PHILADELPHIA 

PETER REILLY, PUBLISHER 

133 N. THIRTEENTH STREET 
1915 






Copyright 1915, by Peter Reilly 
Published July, 1915 



FIRST IMPRKSSIOM 



^^ 



(C5CI,A411034 



TO 

GRACE BARTLETT STRYKER 



Words fail me when I strive to say 

What youVe meant to me — for so long a day 

Hope — Inspiration — Sympathy. 

Steadfast and true, whate'er might be. 

priv'lege rarest to the end 

As in the past, to call you — friend. 



[IX] 



AUTHOR'S NOTE 

The poems contained within the following pages are 
children of the brain which at intervals obtruded their 
company, and which, such as they are, at the solcitation 
of my friends, I have ventured to set down. K. F. H. 



[XI] 



CONTENTS 



Dedication IX 

Author's Note XI 



POEMS OF LIFE. 

Page 

Today 5 

Jewels 6 

Something Gone 7 

A-Maying 8 

Tribute 9 

Good-Bye 10 

The Wondrous Song 14 

Miladi 17 

The Something-my-lif e-has-missed 18 

Contentment 20 

Gone 21 

To My Muse 22 

Conception 24 

Awakening 25 

The House Built on Sands 26 

To a Butterfly 28 

A Fragment 29 

Query 30 



[ XIII ] 



CONTENTS— (Continued) 

Page 

I Close Mine Eyes 32 

Understanding 33 

We Met in May 34 

I Turn Me Down a Lighted Way 36 

Counsel 37 

Decision 39 

You Never Guessed the Secret 40 

The Light 42 

Education 43 

Re-Adjustment 44 

FROM ''RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS'^ 

When Grandmama Was Little 53 

Harold's Lament 55 

Mrs. Spider 57 

The Naughty Little Girl 58 

On the Stair 60 

The Land O'Dreams 61 

The Middle of the Night 63 

V^Hien Our Fathers Were Little Boys 65 

Slumber Land 67 

The New Brother 68 



[XIV] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



POEMS OF LIFE 



TO-DAY 

rpHE Yesterdays we might have called 
-*- our own 

But which, in our blindness, we let slip 

by, 

Alas ! they know not to return again, 
Deep-buried doth each, within its grave, 
lie. 

But belov'ed, now that we have made 
The golden secret ours — to hold alway 

We will not sorrow o^er departed hours — 
Just live in God^s great glorious — 
To-day ! 



[ 5 ] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



JEWELS 

OH, not the gracious deeds your kindness 
knew, dear. 
When shone my sun and skies were ever 
fair; 
But the more precious sympathies you 
tendered 
In sorrow's hour. Those my jewels rare 
Which dearer, than offering wealth knows 
to proffer, 
ril keep beside me whatever may attend, 
Nor render up so long as Life's day 
lasteth, — 
Aye, and take with me, when shall plead 
its end. 



[ 6 ] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



SOMETHING GONE 

VOU come to me — you take my hand, 
-■" You try to make me see 
Things should become as they once were, 
'Twixt you and me. 

I listen to each word, you say, 

I mark well ev'ry tone. 
Only to find — you plead in vain, — 

There's something gone. 

Something gone — that cannot come back 
again, 

Tho' most entreatingly you pray. 
Yet, not mine the fault, — but yours alone, 

It went away. 



[ 7 ] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



A-MAYING 

WE will go a-Maying dear, 
Just you and I together, 
Oh, the glory of God's blossoming 

Sunshiny weather! 
Ev'ry ill we will forget. 

Nor remember a regret, 
For 'twill never do to fret 

Whilst we are a-straying. 
Only laughter ringing clear. 

Waking echo far and near; 
You and I so happy dear; 

A-Maying ! A-Maying ! 



[ 8 ] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



TRIBUTE 

nnO prove myself— aye, that's my aim, 
-^ To prove myself for those 
Who took me by the hand and held. 

Nor cared if others chose 
To notice or pass coldly by. 

Thro' stormiest of weather 
Stood ever at my side, and said 

We'll face the world together! 



[9] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



GOOD-BYE 

She 
p OOD-BYE, yes, Fve decided 
^ It's best — it should not go on, 
The quite delightful companionship 
You and I, for some time, have known. 

No, do not try to dissuade tne, 
Fve thought it most carefully o'er, 

To arrive at but one conviction — 
We must see each other no more. 

He 

And you think to sever our friendship 

By a mere putting away. 
Letting the same, as it were, slip from us 

Nor permitting me to say, 

A word in defence of its going 

As if Fd no right to share 
In the matter of decision 

I ask you, — Is it fair? 



POEMS OF LIFE 



GOOD-BYE (continued) 

She 
Man-like you refuse to reason 

To see it's the only way, 
That the step really should have been taken 

Even before to-day. 

With you 'tis quite different, — the matter, — 
YouVe privilege entire of your life; 

But my freedom bows to restriction, — 
I am another man's wife. 

He 

Yes, another man's wife, but the honor 
The Fates have conferred, it would seem 

He doesn't the quite appreciate, — 
At least, 'tis the knowledge I gleam. 

From observing his attitude towards you. 
Which I'm sure, — and you can but agree. 

Is not in the least in keeping with what 
A husband's towards a wife should be. 



[11] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



GOOD-BYE (continued) 

She 

And his failing you think permits me 
Favor to accept at your hands, 

That the vow I took at the altar 
Ceases to impose its demands. 

In sickness or health I promised, 
*Tor better or worse'', — till the day. 

He who gave should in his judgment 
See fit to take away. 

He 

And you'll let it bind you, that promise, 

To a man who does not care; 
Whose interest is the thoroughly selfish, 

In whose secrets — you do not share. 

Listen, dear, the privilege of Mortals, — 
To get what we can out of life. 

Free yourself from the bond that is irksome 
And find happiness, as my wife. 



[12] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



GOOD-BYE (contiiiued) 

She ; 

Nay, not so, the rule of living 

Holds faithful but to the one test; 
Nor counts it — another^s transgression. 

We must give of ourselves — our best. 

Of no use to appeal the exception, 
The truth remains fix'ed alway. 

So, good-bye, it must be, — and, God bless 
you,— 
There is nothing more to say. 



[13] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



THE WONDROUS SONG 

T LONGED to sing a wondrous song, 
■*■ So wondrous, 'twould compel 
The admiration unreserved 
Of one and all as well. 

My pen I took in hand and strove 

The magic words to write, 
Alas ! I could not of my Muse 

Inspiration invite. 

She would not humor, tho' I begged 

Persistently and long 
For the right metre — the right thought. 

To best set down my song. 

^Twas stately phrase I coveted. 
The Laurel I would court — 

That of the world's acknowledgment 
Of unsurpass'ed thought. 



[14] 



POEMS OF LIFE 
THE WONDROUS SONG (continued) 

At length disheartened, my appeal 

Knew, but to be denied, 
I rose and to the window moved. 

And marked the scene outside. 

All quiet stretched the land before, 

Enwrapt in the soft haze 
Which with such rare enchantment clothes 

Autumn's initial days. 

Idly my glance the expanse swept 

Till it came to where lay 
Outside the gate, the winding road 

Leading to far-away. 

Then with the moment light was mine — 

Yet not complex its thought. 
The inspiration which appealed 

Was different, from that sought. 



[15] 



POEMS OF LIFE 
THE WONDROUS SONG (continued) 

The winding road — the simple theme- 
They who followed after — 

The toll it wrested of sad tears, 
For short dole of laughter. 

The tranquil ways bidden farewell, 

To seek of its unrest, 
The truth alas ! too oft brought home. 

The paths forsook, were best. 

Could I but so compose a lay. 
That one who heard might pause. 

Nor continue to sacrifice 
In an unrighteous cause. 

And keep his soul tho' it should be 
By cruelest conflict wrung, 

I need not further supplicate — 
My wondrous song were sung. 



[16] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



MILADI 

TVyrlLADI is so wonderful in furbelows 

^^ and laces; 

Miladi is so wonderful of such beguiling 

graces; 
My poor faint heart goes pit-a-pat when 

she her Slave addresses 
I wonder if how much I love, Miladi 

guesses ! 

Miladi is so wonderful, her dimples and her 

curls ; 
Miladi is so wonderful, my mind bewildered 

whirls; 
Oh would some pow'r benign might make it 

plain for me to see 
How much it is, in very truth, Miladi thinks 

of me. 



[17] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



THE SOMETHING MY LIFE HAS MISSED 

TT whispers in the murmur 
-*- Of the breezes passing by, 
Pulsates in the azure 

Of ev'ry flawless sky. 
And oh ! when twilight gathers 

And its curtain gently falls, 
The-something-my-life-has-missed 

Calls and calls. 

Part of the Throng have found it. 

The light within their eyes 
Pleads of too great a radiance 

The truth to disguise. 
Their world is all they wish for, 

Nor know they to implore 
From off Destiny's altar 

Happiness more. 



[18] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



THE SOMETHING MY LIFE HAS MISSED 
(continued) 

It whispers in the murmur 

Of the breezes passing by, 
Pulsates in the azure 

Of evYy flawless sky. 
Some day I, too, shall know it 

In all its ecstaey, 
The-something-my-life-has-missed 

Will come to me. 



[19] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



CONTENTMENT 

rpO have you with me day by day 
-*- Watch you flitting to and fro, 
In and out this room and that, 

Up and down the stairs and lo! 
With each turn mark you at 

Some task benign — love bids you know. 

To have you with me day by day, 

A tender, trusting, gracious self 
Let the world treasure as it may. 

To me, far dearer than its wealth 
Your comradeship. Nor pleads the hour 

In all God's calendar so true. 
With blessing richer for its dow'r 

Than the rare one which gave me, — you. 



[20] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



GONE 

T TURN to find you, 
•*• But do not see — 

Who at my side I knew 
Continually. 

Again, I hearken! 

But do not hear. 
Your voice answer mine 

In tones so clear. 

Gone ! — nevermore on earth 

To see, to know. 
And I still live on 

God! — is it so? 



[21] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



TO MY MUSE 

T ET others bow before Wealth's shrine, 

^ And tribute render up 

For the pleasures manifold it brings 

To overflow Life's cup. 
But at your altar, Muse, I kneel 

And reverential pray, 
When darkness would have claimed my 
soul — 

You held its blight at bay. 

My sky of Life was overcast — i 

Nor showed one patch of blue — 
Love had betrayed, and deep, — ah, deep ! 

My heart drank of its rue. 
Where lo ! a hand my shoulder pressed, 

E'en as I would give up ; — 
I turned, — your eyes looked into mine — 

There passed the cup. 



[22] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



TO MY MUSE (continued) 

A music wonderful entranced 

Which led to heights afar; 
Ever it beckoned on, and on, 

My guiding star. 
The chains that hitherto had held, — 

How worthless proved their pow'r! 
Instead of wishing Life to pass 

I thanked God for each hour. 

Let others how before WealtNs shrine, 

And tribute render up 
For the pleasures manifold it brings 

To overflow Lifers cup. 
But at your altar, Muse, I kneel 

And reverential pray, 
When darkness would have claimed my 
soul, — 

You held its blight at bay. 



[23] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



CONCEPTION 

rn the many you give of your lighter vein 
■^ Laughter and gay repartee. 
But the deeper side, — that which thinks 
things out, 
You give to me. 

With the many you play Life's make- 
believe game; 
'Tis a bantering light they see 
When they look in your eyes, their earnest 
gaze 
You save for me. 

The many accept you for what you would 
seem; 

From such blundering am I free: 
I know you for your own true self, — the self 

You are to me. 



[24] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



AWAKENING 

r\H, truth was mine before. I knew 

^ The sun was gold; the skies of day 

were blue; 
But the wonder of things, dear — this never 

grew 
Until into my life, God's grace sent you. 



[25] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



THE HOUSE BUILT ON SANDS 

WE will go, he said, far, far away, 
And a world make of our own. 
A kingdom, such as never before 
On land or sea, has been known. 

She smiled into his eyes, — and oh ! the look 

Of perfect trust she gave 
As he gathered her close, vowing the while 

Allegiance unto the grave. 

Well, they went away and made their world 

As others had done before. 
For the time being love blinding them 

To the confine of its shore. 

They were all-in-all to each other, alone, 

And it mattered not a whit, 
That, in the scheme of things outside the 
pale. 

They were not permitted to fit. 



[26] 



POEMS OF LIFE 
THE HOUSE BUILT ON SANDS (continued) 

Defiance they flung in the face of dissent! 

Life, — was it not their right 
To live it as thev wanted to? 

And they would, all warning despite. 

Why burden the pages by writing down 

Their history in detail? 
Was ever yet such a compact made 

That was known not to fail 

Twas a question of time, — '^The house 
built on sands^^ 
From its moorings slipped away; 
They who court Fate's disfavor — or soon — 
or late, 
"Pass under the rod'' of her sway. 



[27] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



TO A BUTTERFLY 

"pUTTERFLY, Butterfly, 
^ Roaming thro' the air — 
Flying here, flying there, 

Flying — everywhere. 
Bending o'er the roses' petals, 

Drinking of their dew. 
Then away — with quick dart — 

Cleaving towards the blue! 

Butterfly, Butterfly, 

Roaming thro' the air — 
If I, like you, had privilege. 

To wander ev'ryA\^here. 
I'd spread my wings and soar up ! up ! 

Straight to Heav'n's door — 
And when I got there Butterfly, 

I'd roam no more! 



[28] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



A FRAGMENT 

T^ LOWERS exquisite frequent thrive, 
^ Hidden in the shade 
Of some o'er-arching foliage 
In a secluded glade. 

They need the shadow, not the sun, 
To best perfect their bloom. 

E'en so, life's rarest thought expands 
Oft, in its darkened room. 



[29] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



QUERY 

"Y^OU love me, you say, and want me 
■^ To become your own. 
I believe you are in earnest now, 
But, — as the years go on — 

What do you think will happen ! 

Shall we travel side by side. 
Lovers, and faithful companions, 

Whatever may betide? 

So many have taken the venture. 
But to find it turn out for the bad. 

Who, at the beginning, just as much faith 
In a different outcome had. 

That Fm fearful our fate might be like 
theirs, — 

Have we proof, think you, it will not? 
A guarantee, — we shall never grow tired 

And want to unfasten the knot? 



[30] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



QUERY (continued) 

Tho' my love is yours, 'twere far better, 
Our paths separately should trend; 

Than start together, and then diverge, 
Nor accomplish the journey's end. 



[31] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



I CLOSE MINE EYES 

T CLOSE mine eyes, and see you dear 

•*■ As in the dear, dead days; 

The tender grace, and strength of poise, 

Marking you from the rest apart. 
And oh ! it seems as if I must 

Enfold you to my heart. 

I close mine eyes, and see you dear 

As in the dear, dead days; 
The hair's soft fall over the brow. 

Within your eyes love's ardent light. 
It cannot be ! it cannot be ! 

My day has turned to night. 

I close mine eyes, and see you dear 

As in the dear, dead days; 
Before love's bitter aftermath 

Whose penalty 'tis mine to know. 
Oh ! come to me from out its void ! 

/ need you so! I need you so. 



[32] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



UNDERSTANDING 

TT'OU have not spoken the word, dear, 
-^ But I know! I know! 
It came to me of a-sudden 

How you loved me so ! 
A glance which escaped unguarded. 

The truth made plain. 
IVe hugged its memory to me 

Over, and over again! 

You have not spoken the word, dear. 

But I know ! I know ! 
It came to me of a-sudden 

How you loved me so ! 
A breath, with a catch in the taking, — 

And my world, you see, 
Became changed, — for I love you, dear! 

As you love me ! 



[33] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



WE MET IN MAY 

TT7E met in May, I know you have for- 
'^ gotten, 

Have long since put all thought of me away; 

Yet in my heart the memory ever lingers, — 

We met in May. 

Fragrant the air with redolence of blossom ! 
Matchless the sky of perfect, cloudless blue ! 
And oh! the music that the world was 
ringing — 

When I met you. 

Another has your fancy from me captured; 
Her lot, — Fate's tenderer impulse to know. 
Whilst I, adown the years waiting the 
facing, 

Alone, must go. 



[34] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



WE MET IN MAY (continued) 

No thought is mine save that bequeaths a 

blessing; — 
God grant your life be a long, happy day. 
You have forgotten, but I must remember, — 
We met in May. 



[35] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



I TURN ME DOWN A LIGHTED WAY 

T TURN me down a lighted way 

■*■ Where laughter rings and song floats 

out; 
And, as I gain the happy throng, 
All eagerly they flock about. 

I smile on this side, and on that. 
Join the gay flow of repartee : 

Yet, deep, deep down, within my heart 
Echoes the endless moan for thee. 

I hark to him who compliments, 
Within my eyes a sparkling light. 

I play the game, — nor does he guess 
Its fire has burned to ashes white. 

They count me merriest of all. 

Not one who notes the deep-down sigh, 
Who lists — Life's tragic undertone, — 
We^ve said good-bye — we^ve said good-bye* 



[36] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



COUNSEL 

TTAVE you balked at the test youVe been 
■*■■■- put to, 

Are you weary of straining a point? 
Is the fight too hard, the way too long? 
Is there too much of sighing, too little of 

song? 
Does ev'ry thing seem to be going wrong? 
The scheme entire, as it were, out of 
joint? 

Then lend me an ear whilst I counsel awhile, 

You must take a fresh grip, my friend. 
The game is yours if you'll make it your 

own, 
Defeat is a word that need never be known. 
He who sticks in his mount, cannot be 
thrown. 
Let his steed strive its best to that end. 



[37] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



COUNSEL (continued) 

The sun goes down with the gloom of each 
night, 
But it rises again with each morn, 
And there's so much of brightness to be 

gathered in, 
Such wonderful happiness ours to win, 
Throw despair to the winds, and anew 
begin. 
Standing forth — the Mortal re-born! 



[38] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



DECISION 

AT times, I think, were we to talk it over 
The something wanting in your life 
and mine. 
We might arrive at clearer understanding 
The cause of our unhappiness define. 

Yet, ever with the impulse strong upon me 
Such course to follow out as for the best, 

Comes swift the contradictory impression,— 
'Twould useless be to put it to the test. 

That sympathy which pleads when souls are 
mated 
Is the so woefully lacking, — 'tis clear, 
It could not prove aught else than effort 
wasted, — 
You are so far, — to try and draw you 
near. 



[39] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



YOU NEVER GUESSED THE SECRET 

YOU never guessed the secret, 
Nor have unto to-day. 
The truth of it never reached you, 

I hid it so well away. 
The truth of how I loved you. 

Yet spake not, for your sake ; 
Nor is it easy to put aside 
What One so longs to take. 

The voice of you, in my musings. 

The glance of you, in my dreams; 
The feeling, you ever were near me. 

Even now, how compelling it seems! 
As if but to turn — were to see you; 

To know the clasp of your hand ; 
Yet, I guarded the knowledge carefully. 

And you did not understand. 



[40] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



YOU NEVER GUESSED THE SECRET (continued) 

Still the thought of you hurt, and I 
hungered — 

Hungered, day and night. 
It will count when the story is ended, 

I was able to see aright. 
You never guessed the secret. 

Nor have unto to-day. 
The truth of it never reached you, 

I hid it so well away. 



[41] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



THE UGHT 

npHE light! the light! 
■*• For all is dark, 
The light I pray, 

My feet stumble, 
I cannot find the way. 

The light! the light! 

For all is dark, 
Soon the night 

Complete, will overtake 
The light! the light! Oh! God— the light! 



[42] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



EDUCATION 

TT'OU say you are shocked, my lady, — and 
■^ so you ought to be. 

A comedy, quite upon my soul. 
To make me love you, — then fence about 

When I demand only righteous toll. 

An innocent flirtation, you intended no 
harm, — 

Well, a lesson the trifler learns. 
To keep a safe distance away from fire, — 

For the truth, not the lie, it burns. 



[43] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



RE-ADJUSTMENT 

"VT'OU beg of me to forgive you 
-*- The Other in your life. 
She, who has for some time, Fve discovered, 
Been defrauding the wife. 

You avow you never loved her 
That 'twas she led you along — 

And why hold one responsible 
Who's not guilty of a wrong? 

Won't I forgive, as you urge me, 

Forgive and try to forget? 
Let the rest of your life be a token, 

Of how sincere your regret. 

I must have time for my answer, 
Some things take the breath — 

It seems to die, we need not 
Always wait for death. 



[44] 



POEMS OF LIFE 



RE-ADJUSTMENT (continued) 

I loved you so absolutely, 

Thought you so completely my own ; 
I never questioned but that we meant 

All in all to each other — alone. 

And you the while were betraying 

The faith I held so dear, i 

Selling the same to another — 
No, do not come near. 

When its foundation becomes weakened, 

A structure is undermined, 
Nor can it at all times, be strengthened 
anew, 

They who venture the effort, find. 

I will do my best to replace it — 

The foundation my trust hath known ; 

Should I fail — tho' sincere my intention — 
tion — 
You must go on your way — alone. 



[45] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR 
WEE SWEETHEARTS" 



Acknowledgment Is made to Messrs. George W. Jacobs 
& CJompany for their courtesy in granting permission to 
reprint in this volume verses from "Rhymes for Wee 
Sweethearts." 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS" 



WHEN GRANDMAMA WAS UTTLE 

WHEN grandmama was little — 
It was years and years ago, 
In what folks call, at this time. 

The old-fashioned days, you know — 
Why, she had such a perfect time, 

The best you ever saw : 
We wish that we'd been little 
Same time as grandmama. 

She tells us all about it. 

And then, if we are good. 
And just sit still and listen. 

The way all children should. 
And never interrupt a bit. 

Or question 'bout the rest 
Till she's all through, she shows us 

The things up in her chest. 



[53] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS" 
WHEN GRANDMAMA WAS LITTLE (continued) 

I can't begin to tell you 

The half of what is there : 
The rag-dolls soiled and faded 

That haven't any hair, 
And toys, and — oh, yes! — lady-dolls, 

And, folded with the rest, 
A little rose-bud muslin frock. 

Her one-time very best. 

And there's her picture taken 

In this self -same gown. 
With ruffles reaching to the waist 

And panties showing down; 
Hair parted in the middle ; 

Over each ear a curl : 
Oh! but our grandmama was pretty! 

When a little girl ! 



[54] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS" 



HAROLD'S LAMENT 

BLAMED if I see any fun 
In being a boy, 
With everybody trying 

Their hardest to annoy ! 
It's "Harold'' here, and "Harold" there 

Until they have me sick 
Of "Run along!"— "Don't be slow!"— 
Or "Hurry up; be quick!" 

First some one sends me down-stairs, 

I run with might and main ; 
Before I'm half-way there it's turn 

And run right up again! 
And sure as I go out to play, 

Or have a little fun, 
I'm called straight in : there's something 
else 

A-waiting to be done ! 



[55] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS" 
HAROLD'S LAMENT (continued) 

I just believe Fll run away; 

Pack all my things and go! 
Can't see the use of staying 'round 

And being treated so! 
For I just bet when they were small, 

Not one of them would do 
Half of the errands and the things 

That Fm expected to! 



[56] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS" 



MRS. SPIDER 

BROTHER DICK and I one day 
Watched Mrs. Spider spin away : 
My, how she spun, and spun, and spun, 
Until she had her web all done ! 
Then, brother Dick, he said to me : 
"Now, where can Mr. Spider be?'' 
We watched, but didn't see him come. 
So I guess he couldn't have lived at home. 



[57] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS" 



THE NAUGHTY LITTLE GIRL 

WHEN Fm so awf ly naughty, 
And 

just 

won't 
do 
The very littlest tiny thing 
That 
Fm 

told 
to, 
But kick and scream when any one 

Attempts to come my way. 
And press my fingers to my ears 
. To miss what they may say, 
Why, then my mother says that I'm 

As bad as bad can be ; 
She says she thinks it's some one else 
Instead 
of 
me. 



[58] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS' 
THE NAUGHTY LITTLE GIRL (continued) 

She says she's sure the little girl 
She 

used 
to 
know 
Would never do the horrid things 
That 
hurt 
her 
so; 
And though she doesn't try to whip, 

She looks so very sad 
That somehow I just get ashamed 

And can't keep being bad : 
I chase the naughty girl away 

As far as far can be ; 
Then I run and kiss my mother, so 
She'll 

know 
I'm 
me! 



[59] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS" 



ON TTIE STAIR 

A WEE form nestles on the stair, 
Two eyes betraying 
The Sand-man has overtaken there 

Wee steps delaying. 
Too tired to mount the flight to bed, 
Dear little tumbled golden head. 
Just resting there a while instead. 
Through dreamland straying. 



[60] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS' 



THE LAND O' DREAMS 

ALL aboard for the Land o' Dreams! 
(One for the money and two for the 
show!) 
All aboard for the Land o' Dreams ! 
(Three to make ready and four to go!) 
The passenger's late, 
But the cars all wait — 
Just hark to the brakeman's cries : 

"All aboard for the Land o' Dreams!'' — 
And the tickets are drowsy eyes. 



[61] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS" 
THE LAND O' DREAMS (continued) 

II 

All aboard for the Land o' Dreams! 
(One for the money and two for the 
show!) 
All aboard for the Land o' Dreams! 
(Three to make ready and four to go!) 
The whistles sound, 
And the wheels go 'round, 
And the bright green fields slip past; 
The passenger's here and the track is 
clear 
To the Land o' Dreams at last ! 



[62] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS" 



THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT 

C OMETIMES at night I get awake 
^ And alFs so dark and still — 
Why Vm 'bout scared even to take 

A deep-down breath, until 
I peer 'round first and try to see 

If everything's all right ! 
For the terriblest things can be, — 

The Middle of the Night. 

I want so much to cry right out — 

But I am awful 'f raid ! 
'Cause, if those black things were about, 

They'd hear the noise I made. 
And mother sleeps so very sound. 

She mightn't hear, you see. 
And then they'd make a great big bound 

And run away with me. 



[63] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS'* 
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT (continued) 

So I lie just still as I can — 

My heart a-thumping so! 
Wishing I were a great big man, 

So rd not scare, you know. 
When oh! — the covers pull away 

And just as I begin 
To scream — why, I hear mother say 

It's her tucking them in ! 



[64] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS" 



WHEN OUR FATHERS WERE LITTLE 

BOYS 

WHEN our fathers were little boys, 
Before they grew to men, 
I wonder did they make a noise 

Or have a good time then? 
I wonder did they ever fight 

And punch each other's nose? 
Or if they always did just right 
And never spoiled their clothes. 

I wonder did their mothers scold 

Sometimes and make them cry? 
I wonder if they ever told 

A teeny-weeny lie? 
I wonder if they ever had 

Such dirty hands and face? 
I wonder were they ever mad 

And banged things 'round the place? 



[65] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS" 

WHEN OUR FATHERS WERE LITTLE BOYS 
(continued) 

I wonder did they ever run 

To fires hard as they could? 
Or if they called it better fun 

To sit still and be good? 
I wonder were they ever small 

And kept back in the shade? 
Or didn't they have to grow at all, 

But just come ready made? 



[66] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS" 



SLUMBER LAND 

TO all: "Good-night!" 
Two eyes shut tight 
And baby's bound for Slumber, 

The land where all tired children go, 
The land where white dream-flowers 
grow 
Beyond my art to number : 
Winks 
And blinks 
And nods all past — 
Mother's arms are sure and fast. 
Off to Slumber Land at last, 
The moonlit Land of Slumber! 



[67] 



FROM "RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS" 



THE NEW BROTHER 

WE'VE got a new kid in our house ; 
And it 'bout gives me a fit, 
The fuss that everybody is 

A-making over it. 
All 'long Fve been the pet, you see, 

'Twas me they tried to please 
But now, this other fellow has 
Them all upon their knees ! 

He's just about the ugliest! 

And really doesn't seem 
Able to do another thing 

But double up and scream. 
He's got no teeth, he's got no hair, — 

Worst curiosity ! 
I'd like some one to tell me why 

He counts for more than me ! 



[68] 



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